Support system for a cross-rolling machine for shaping rod-like workpieces

ABSTRACT

A support system for supporting a rod-like workpiece in a crossrolling machine includes a fluid pressure control piston having a rod member with a rotatable chuck for supporting one end of the rod-like workpiece and a second fluid pressure-controlled piston which has a rod member provides a centering means for holding the opposite end of the workpiece. The workpiece is shiftable axially with the rod members on rollers and it is centered over the roller by rings which extend around each roller and define a passage therewithin over each roller for the guiding of the workpiece.

United States Patent Tsukamoto et al.

SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR A CROSS- ROLLING MACHINE FOR SHAPING ROD-LIKE WORKPIECES Hidehiko Tsukamoto; Nobutaka Maeda, both of Hiroshima, Japan Inventors:

Mitsubkhi .Iukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, Japan Assignee:

Filed: Dec. 22, 1970 Appl. No.: 100,656

Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 22, 1969 Japan ..44/l02532 US. Cl ..72/95,'72/l02, 72/250 Int. Cl ..B2lb 19/02 Field of Search 7.72/95, 98, 102, 250, 107

nsi 3,678,719

[451 July 25, 1972 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,670,78l 3/1954 Brofelth ..72/95 2,937,547 5/1960 Moeltzner ..72/95 3,584,488 6/1971 Erdely ..72/ l 07 Primary Examiner-Richard .l. Herbst Attorney-John J. McGlew and Alfred E. Page 57] ABSTRACT A support system for supporting a rod-like workpiece in a cross-rolling machine includes a fluid pressure control piston having a rod member with a rotatable chuck for supporting one end of the rod-like workpiece and a second fluid pressurecontrolled piston which has a rod member provides a centering means for holding the opposite end of the workpiece. The workpiece is shiftable axially with the rod members on rollers and it is centered over the roller by rings which extend around each roller and define a passage therewithin over each roller for the guiding of the workpiece.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Patented July 25, 1972 3,678,719

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I PRIOR ART FIG 2 PRIOR ART INVENTORJ H DE/low 730 090, 7 BY Imam/ 0 M65 4 u/mm m lfitnnvgr;

Patented July 25, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORJ man/mo BwmMoTo BY #aeumkfl H9509 WMMQLW SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to a device for shaping metal workpieces and, in particular, to a new and useful device for supporting a rod-like workpiece in association with a cross-rolling machine in a manner such that it may be shifted axially and steadied for the rolling operation.

The present invention is particularly applicable for use in the accurate positioning of a workpiece in respect to rotatable dies which act on the workpiece which is centrally positioned between the dies. The invention is particularly applicable for shaping a blank such as a round bar into a desired configuration, using a pair of rotating wedge-shaped dies attached on upper and lower rolls, respectively.

With the known cross-rolling machines, a red hot blank of rod-like configuration is shaped while it is rotating, and formed into a shaft or similar construction of desired configuration by a pair of oppositely rotating dies which engage on the circumference of the rod-like workpiece. In such a crossrolling machine, the position of the workpiece during the shaping operation becomes unstable and there is a possibility that the material becomes deviated from its normal position in the course of the shaping operation. Therefore, it is necessary to support the workpiece by suitable means, but since the workpiece rotates substantially at the same speed as the dies which are in rolling contact therewith, the known support means are not satisfactory for facilitating the rotating of the workpiece at the same speed as the dies, and without obstructing the shaping operation.

The present invention provides a supporting device for a workpiece of a cross-rolling machine which permits the accurate positioning and holding of the workpiece while it rotates during engagement thereof by the shaping dies. The construction includes a movable piston member which carries a rotatable chuck for rotatably centering one end of the workpiece, and the other end is centered by engagement with a pointed end of a centering chuck at the opposite end. The arrangement includes a middle support in the form of ring members and guide rollers. The guide rollers from a rolling support for the workpiece and the ring members engage around the periphery and provide a holding and centering action. The arrangement is such that the shaping process under the rotating dies can be carried out while the workpiece is securely supported with no fear of obstructing the shaping operation.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved support system for a cross-rolling machine which includes centering and holding chuck means engageable with respective opposite ends of the workpiece and permitting the free rotation thereof in combination with one or more guide rollers over which the workpiece is movable for facilitating its axial displacement and one or more ring members which define a central guide path therein for orienting the workpiece in a correct position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a support system for a cross-rolling machine which is simple in design, rugged in construction, and economical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawing and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevational view of a cross-rolling machine of the prior art;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial sectional view of a portion of the forming roll and die used in the prior art exemplified by FIG. 1;

III

FIG. 3 is a schematic partial sectional and partial side elevational view of a support system for a cross-rolling machine constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 4 is an axial sectional view of a combined guide roller and guide ring for the workpiece; and

FIG. 5 is a section taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

PRIOR ART Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the prior art construction shown therein, includes a red-hot blank in the form of a rod-like workpiece or shaft 3 which is shaped while rotating into a final shaft configuration having a desired configuration. The shaping is effected by feeding the rod 3 as it rotates between two oppositely arranged rotating dies 2 and 2' attached to the circumference of respective die rollers 1 and 1'. In such a prior art device, the position of the workpiece 3 in its shaping process is unstable as is evident from FIG. 1, and it tends to move away from the operating position during the shaping process. Therefore, it is necessary to support the workpiece 3 by suitable means. Since the workpiece rotates substantially at the same peripheral speed as the dies 2 and 2, the supporting means must also rotate at the same speed as the workpiece and the supporting means must not obstruct the shaping operation.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT REferring to the drawings in particular, the invention embodied therein, as exemplified by FIGS. 3 to 5, comprises a cross-rolling machine with a pair of rolls 1 and 1' having dies 2 and 2 as in the prior art. I

In accordance with the invention, the support system for supporting a workpiece 3 comprises workpiece holding and positioning means which includes a fluid pressure cylinder 5 with a piston rod 11 having a rotatable support chuck 6 at its outer end which receives and rotatably supports the workpiece 3 at this end. The opposite end includes a fluid cylinder 4 having a piston rod 12 with a rotatable centering member 9 having a pointed end which engages the end of the workpiece 3. The piston rods 11 and 12 may be advanced or retracted for the purpose of shifting the axial position of the workpiece 3 in respect to the rollers l and 1' and their associated dies 2 and 2! In accordance with a feature of the invention, the workpiece is also supported intermediate its length by guide and roller means in the form of guide rollers 8, over which the workpiece is movable, and by centering and positioning rings 10, through which the workpiece is guided.

Prior to working, the workpiece 3 is pushed by the piston rod 12 of the cylinder 4 under hydraulic pressure and passed through the support rings 10 over the guide rollers 8. The tip of the workpiece 3 is clamped by the chuck 6. The rotatable chuck 6 has the function of supporting the workpiece 3 and positioning the workpiece centrally in respect to the as sociated dies 2 and 2'. The rings 10 centrally support the workpiece 3 while the guide rollers 8 permit a smooth axial movement of the workpiece.

As indicated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the ring members 10 which form the guide for the workpiece 3 have: a slot 10a at their bottom into which the rollers 8 project in order to provide a rolling surface upon which the workpiece may roll axially. Each guide roller 8 includes a shaft 13 which is rotatably supported in the bearing surfaces of a pedestal 14 and a cover member 15, as shown in FIG. 5. The roller shaft 13 is kept from falling out by means of a washer 16 and a split pin 17. A pair of L-shaped lower rackets l8 and 19 are welded on each side of the pedestal l4 and each has a flange 20, 21, respectively, at its top. An upper bracket 22 carries the support ring 10 and it is fastened at its flanges 23 to the lower bracket 18 by means of bolts 24. The construction is such that the ring 10, which might possible seize with the workpiece during some operative conditions, may be readily exchanged for a new ring, if necessary.

The workpiece 3, after being red-heated in the heating furnace 7, is held in a predetermined longitudinal and central position by means of the chuck 6 and the entering member 9. Upon working, the workpiece 3 rotates between the dies 2 and 2 and is shaped into a desired configuration thereby. The workpiece, supported axially by the rotatable centering member and the chuck 6 and radially by the support rings 10, is kept in a predetermined position during working under the force of the fluid pressure supplied by the pressure cylinders and 4. The long workpiece 3 is frequently subjected to radial deviation which will cause not only deterioration of the working accuracy but the damage of the heating furnace 7 and this is effectively prevented by the support rings 10. The chuck 6 and the centering member 9 permit unobstructed rotation of the workpiece 3 during the operation and the fluid pressure supplied by the cylinders 4 and 5 hold the workpiece in the necessary operational position as it develops during the operation.

The advantages of the above arrangement include:

1. The support of the workpiece securely without obstructing the shaping operation, and this may be effected when the hydraulic premure of the cylinders 4 and 5 is selected smaller than the axial component of the force produced by the dies during shaping.

2. By making the chuck 6 and the centering member 9 rotatable, it is possible to support the workpiece without obstructing its rotation.

3. By forming an opening at the bottom of each ring 10 so that a top portion of the associated roller will project therethrough, the workpiece can be smoothly passed from the heating furnace 7 into the space between the dies.

4. The hydraulic cylinder 4 and 5 can be used to determine the precise positioning of the workpiece relative to the dies 2 and 2.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the inventive principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

l. A support system for a cross-rolling machine for shaping a rod-like workpiece by the use of a pair of rotatable dies between which the workpiece is fed, comprising a rotatable chuck at one end engageable with one end of the workpiece and a rotatable center at the opposite end engageable with the opposite end of said workpiece, fluid pressure means connected to said chuck and to said centering member for moving said chuck in said centering members for shifting the workpiece axially, and roller and guide means engageable with the workpiece between said chuck and said centering member and including a roller over which the workpiece is movable and a guide within which the workpiece is advanced.

2. A support system, according to claim 1, wherein said fluid pressure means includes a first fluid pressure cylinder located adjacent one end of the workpiece, a second fluid pressure cylinder located adjacent the other end of the workpiece, first and second piston rods slidable in said first and second cylinders, said first piston rod carrying said centering member, said second piston rod carrying said chuck.

3. A support system, according to claim 2, wherein said roller and guide means comprises a roller over which the workpiece is movable and a guide ring forming an annular guide surface extending over said roller.

4. A support system, according to claim 3, including a support pedestal, said roller being mounted on said support pedestal, a lower mounting plate carried on said pedestal, an upper mounting plate secured to said lower mounting plate and carrying said ring.

5. A support system, according to claim 1, wherein said roller guide means comprises a plurality of rollers arranged between said chuck and said centering member and a ring member associated with each roller forming an annular guide over the roller. 

1. A support system for a cross-rolling machine for shaping a rod-like workpiece by the use of a pair of rotatable dies between which the workpiece is fed, comprising a rotatable chuck at one end engageable with one end of the workpiece and a rotatable center at the opposite end engageable with the opposite end of said workpiece, fluid pressure means connected to said chuck and to said centering member for moving said chuck in said centering members for shifting the workpiece axially, and roller and guide means engageable with the workpiece between said chuck and said centering member and including a roller over which the workpiece is movable and a guide within which the workpiece is advanced.
 2. A support system, according to claim 1, wherein said fluid pressure means includes a first fluid pressure cylinder located adjacent one end of the workpiece, a second fluid pressure cylinder located adjacent the other end of the workpiece, first and second piston rods slidable in said first and second cylinders, said first piston rod carrying said centering member, said second piston rod carrying said chuck.
 3. A support system, according to claim 2, wherein said roller and guide means comprises a roller over which the workpiece is movable and a guide ring forming an annular guide surface extending over said roller.
 4. A support system, according to claim 3, including a support pedestal, said roller being mounted on said support pedestal, a lower mounting plate carried on said pedestal, an upper mounting plate secured to said lower mounting plate and carrying said ring.
 5. A support system, according to claim 1, wherein said roller guide means comprises a plurality of rollers arranged between said chuck and said centering member and a ring member associated with each roller forming an annular guide over the roller. 